We realize it may be a stretch for ordinary people to want to keep up with the comings and goings of the Social Security Administration, but sometimes circumstances permit where someone does want to follow the latest news regarding the agency due to a possible retirement or disability interest. This blog is an ongoing piecemeal of recent stories that have involved Social Security. Some are tidbits and some are important things that should be known in the world of retirement or disability and others are just interesting stories and nothing more.
Enough With The Fake News
The Twitter account Social Security News re-tweeted a story on Good Morning America’s website about a story that suggested that Republicans are already trying to reduce Social Security benefits by 50 percent. The original story, which did not come from GMA, was found on Facebook last month and created quite an uproar, which anyone could understand if it was true. The original story focused on a bill from a Republican congressman who introduced a measure that would indeed reduce Social Security benefits, but only for the top earners, most of who never really rely on Social Security benefits anyway. The moral of this fake news story is don’t get your news from Facebook and if you do, plan to be amazed and outraged on a daily basis because there have been plenty of fake news stories going around there. To learn the full story of this debunked news click here.
Appealing Non Medical Decisions
For several years now Social Security has allowed disability claimants to file appeals on medical denials online, but the same has not been offered for non medical decisions, but that changed as of December 10, 2016. Social Security now allows claimants to file appeals of non medical decisions at www.ssa.gov. Previously the only way to appeal a non medical decision was to visit a local Social Security office or to reach someone at Social Security by phone. There are a variety of unfavorable decisions Social Security issues regarding benefits that don’t have anything to do with medical evidence. Social Security had medical rules in place to determine if an applicant is disabled, but also has non medical rules which also can determine eligibility. If someone is working and earning too much money, or has not worked long enough or more recent enough it could impact a person’s eligibility. Additionally, claimants receive notice that they have been overpaid by Social Security through no fault of their own and this new system allows claimants to appeal decisions in which Social Security is asking for its money back.
Online Forms
Rather than dealing with the hassle of visiting a Social Security office for a specific form or document, try looking online at www.ssa.gov. Among the various forms you will find include an application for enrollment in Medicare, applications for disability as well as appeal forms and a request for benefits verification from Social Security. These forms can be completed and submitted online.
